GeForce RTX 3060 vs Radeon Vega 8

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060

2021Core: 1320 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Radeon Vega 8

2021Core: 300 MHzBoost: 1900 MHz

Popular choices:

RTX 3060

Performance Spectrum - GPU

About G3D Mark

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 3060

2021

Why buy it

  • 673.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 393.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.7 vs 10.5 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs Unknown).
  • More future proof: Ampere on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • 277.8% higher power demand at 170W vs 45W.

Radeon Vega 8

2021

Why buy it

  • Costs $179 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
  • Draws 45W instead of 170W, a 125W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
  • Very weak future-proofing: 2021-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 10.5 vs 51.7 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 better than Radeon Vega 8?
Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3060 averages 673.4% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 16,995 vs 1,569 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 is a 2021 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Radeon Vega 8 is a 2021 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 3060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 983.2% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of Unknown, and the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR upscaling. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?
GeForce RTX 3060 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3060 is about 119.3% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and you are getting 673.4% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 983.2% higher G3D Mark. Radeon Vega 8 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.
Is Radeon Vega 8 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
No, not for a fresh gaming build. Radeon Vega 8 is 2021 hardware with Unknown of VRAM, 1,569 in G3D Mark, and FSR upscaling. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3060Radeon Vega 8
1080p
low149 FPS28 FPS
medium131 FPS20 FPS
high118 FPS13 FPS
ultra99 FPS8 FPS
1440p
low126 FPS21 FPS
medium104 FPS13 FPS
high92 FPS7 FPS
ultra80 FPS4 FPS
4K
low67 FPS9 FPS
medium58 FPS6 FPS
high39 FPS3 FPS
ultra32 FPS3 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3060Radeon Vega 8
1080p
low354 FPS71 FPS
medium310 FPS48 FPS
high249 FPS32 FPS
ultra195 FPS22 FPS
1440p
low222 FPS46 FPS
medium196 FPS25 FPS
high160 FPS19 FPS
ultra128 FPS14 FPS
4K
low110 FPS23 FPS
medium94 FPS14 FPS
high77 FPS11 FPS
ultra60 FPS8 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 3060Radeon Vega 8
1080p
low765 FPS71 FPS
medium612 FPS56 FPS
high510 FPS47 FPS
ultra382 FPS35 FPS
1440p
low535 FPS53 FPS
medium432 FPS42 FPS
high366 FPS35 FPS
ultra287 FPS26 FPS
4K
low367 FPS35 FPS
medium298 FPS28 FPS
high221 FPS24 FPS
ultra176 FPS18 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 3060Radeon Vega 8
1080p
low523 FPS71 FPS
medium452 FPS56 FPS
high383 FPS47 FPS
ultra319 FPS35 FPS
1440p
low428 FPS53 FPS
medium371 FPS42 FPS
high298 FPS35 FPS
ultra245 FPS26 FPS
4K
low279 FPS35 FPS
medium259 FPS28 FPS
high225 FPS24 FPS
ultra186 FPS18 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3060 and Radeon Vega 8

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3060

The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.

AMD

Radeon Vega 8

The Radeon Vega 8 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 13 2021. It features the GCN 5.1 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1900 MHz. It has 448 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 45W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,569 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the Radeon Vega 8's 1,569 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 983.2%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the Radeon Vega 8 uses GCN 5.1, both on 8 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 448 (Radeon Vega 8). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1.702 TFLOPS (Radeon Vega 8). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1900 MHz.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Radeon Vega 8
G3D Mark Score
16,995+983%
1,569
Architecture
Ampere
GCN 5.1
Process Node
8 nm
7 nm
Shading Units
3584+700%
448
Compute (TFLOPS)
12.74 TFLOPS+649%
1.702 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1777 MHz
1900 MHz+7%
ROPs
48+500%
8
TMUs
112+300%
28

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon Vega 8 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Radeon Vega 8
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 comes with 12 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon Vega 8 has 0 MB. The GeForce RTX 3060 offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs System.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Radeon Vega 8
VRAM Capacity
12 GB
Shared System RAM
Memory Type
GDDR6
Shared
Memory Bandwidth
360 GB/s
System
Bus Width
192-bit
System
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the Radeon Vega 8's 45W — a 116.3% difference. The Radeon Vega 8 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 1W (Radeon Vega 8). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Integrated.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Radeon Vega 8
TDP
170W
45W-74%
Recommended PSU
550W
1W-100%
Power Connector
8-pin
Integrated
Length
242mm
Height
112mm
Slots
2
Temp (Load)
75
Perf/Watt
100.0+187%
34.9
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3060 launched at $329 MSRP, while the Radeon Vega 8 launched at $150. The Radeon Vega 8 costs 54.4% less ($179 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 10.5 (Radeon Vega 8) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 392.4% better value.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3060Radeon Vega 8
MSRP
$329
$150-54%
Performance per Dollar
51.7+392%
10.5
Codename
GA106
Cezanne
Release
January 12 2021
April 13 2021
Ranking
#114
#601